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First trial for former minister Yaqut in Hajj quota corruption case set for August 11
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

First trial for former minister Yaqut in Hajj quota corruption case set for August 11

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement In the courts
  • The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has scheduled the first trial for a corruption case involving additional Hajj quota for 2023-2024 on August 11.
  • Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is among the four defendants, accused of causing state financial losses amounting to Rp622 billion.
  • The charges are based on alleged violations of anti-corruption laws related to the misuse of Hajj quota, potentially leading to significant financial losses for the state.

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has set August 11 as the date for the first trial in a corruption case concerning additional Hajj quotas for the 2023-2024 period. The trial will take place at the Corruption Eradication Court at the Central Jakarta District Court.

Four individuals are facing charges in this case. They include Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, who served as the Minister of Religious Affairs from 2019 to 2024. Also accused are Ishfah Abidal Azis, known as Gus Alex, who was a special staffer to Yaqut; Ismail Adham, the operational director of Maktour; and Asrul Azis Taba, the general chairman of the Asosiasi Kesthuri and commissioner of PT Raudah Eksati Utama.

The case is being overseen by Chief Judge Ni Kadek Susantiani, with judges Adek Nurhadi and Sigit Herman Binaji serving as panel members. The KPK is prosecuting the defendants under articles related to corruption, specifically Article 2 paragraph (1) and/or Article 3 of the Anti-Corruption Law, in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) sub-clause 1 of the Criminal Code. These articles pertain to causing state financial losses.

According to calculations by the audit team from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia, the alleged corruption involving the additional Hajj quota for 2023-2024 is estimated to have caused state financial losses of Rp622 billion (approximately $40 million USD).

The first trial will be on August 11, 2026.

— Andi SaputraAndi Saputra, spokesperson for the Central Jakarta District Court, confirmed the trial date.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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